Planning a car trip? There’s one traveling companion who won’t say he told you so when you finally admit you took that wrong turn way back there, won’t keep switching the radio channel, and won’t want to stop to see the giant cheese museum. Sure, he might bark at squirrels, demand to water every rest area, and try to hang his head out the window, but nobody’s perfect.

And in fact, for all the advantages of having a dog as your copilot, there are disadvantages, as well. Many hotels and motels won’t accept dogs, or charge a fee for them. Don’t try sneaking your dog in, either; it makes for a miserable night trying to keep him quiet and inside. Did you have your heart set on doing some shopping or sightseeing? Don’t plan on leaving your dog alone in the motel room. He’s likely to think you forgot him, and either howl and bark, or try to escape by digging at the doors and windows. And if the weather is hot, you may not even be able to run into a restroom or eat anywhere but at a drive-thru, for fear of your dog overheating.

But if you’ve taken all that into account, and still want to take your dog, you can take steps to ensure his safety and comfort on the road. The best investment toward both you can make is a crate. The crate is the equivalent of a seatbelt for you, or a car seat for your child. Crates save lives. They prevent your dog from becoming a flying missile, striking the windshield, or you, or being ejected from the car, should you be in an accident. They also prevent your dog from distracting you while you drive. And they give your dog his own space where he can stretch out, eat, drink, and leave the driving to you. If a crate doesn’t work for you, consider a doggy seatbelt or car seat, which are good alternatives for smaller dogs. 

You may not always be able to speak for your dog in case of an accident, so place emergency information on the side of the crate that says something like “In case of emergency, take this dog to a veterinarian, then contact the following persons. Payment of all expenses incurred is guaranteed.” Include any medications or health problems your dog may have.

Remember, the inside of a car can reach temperatures of more than 130 degrees in only minutes in hot weather. If you can use two keys to keep your car running you may be able to run the air conditioning while you run inside to a restroom, but don’t push it. If that’s not possible, and you’re by yourself, you can padlock your dog in a crate, and padlock the crate to your car, and go as fast as you can. You can use battery operated fans aimed within the crate to help keep him cool. Ice packs, or better, one of the cooling pads made for dogs using water retaining gel pellets, can also help keep things cool. But don’t rely on any such measures on a hot day. Sometimes it makes better sense to leave the dog at home.

But even with the challenges, having a dog along can turn a boring trip into an adventure. A dog gives you the perfect excuse to stop and stretch your legs every hour or so, and maybe even find some nature excursions you wouldn’t have thought of otherwise. Just be sure to be safe when you take your dog out. Train him never to jump out of an open car door until invited. It’s too easy to jump into traffic, or to get startled, panicked, and lost in a strange place. Make sure he’s wearing a secure harness or collar he can’t slip out of, and never risk walking him off leash. He should always be wearing identification.

And no matter how much he begs, don’t let him drive!

Want more pet travel ideas? Check out our Tips & Treats section!